Building approval (BA)

A building approval, or BA, sometimes called a construction certificate depending on the state, certifies that detailed building plans comply with the relevant building code and standards, and is generally required before physical construction work can lawfully commence, following on from an earlier development approval covering land use and design. Lenders financing construction confirm the building approval is in place, alongside the development approval, before releasing funds for site works or vertical construction, since building without it exposes both the developer and the project's security value to real risk. The building approval process typically also verifies matters such as structural engineering, fire safety and accessibility compliance, adding a further layer of technical assurance beyond the planning-level development approval. Delays in obtaining a building approval are a common cause of construction finance settlement being pushed back, since a facility approved in principle still cannot draw down for construction works until the BA is confirmed.

Related

Construction finance · DA · OC